Nut-washing machine



F. GRONER.

NUT WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.. 192|.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

F. GRONER.

NUT WASHING MACHINE.

1,387,257. 6' PatentedAug. 9,1921.

` 2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Partnrl Aorrics..V

FERDINAND GRONER, OEHILLSBORO, OREGON.

NUT-WASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. t Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application led April 6, 19.21. Serial No. 458,979.

To all Lo fiom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINAND GnoNnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hillsboro, county of Washington, and State of Oregomhave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Nut-Tashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide flowing from a head.

A hopper is located over one vat and discharges into a spiral conveyer, one of which dips into the water of this receiving vat and the other end discharges onto the scrubbing table provided in the intermediate vat.

While the nuts are being carried forward by the conveyer in the receiving vat the nuts are, of course, tumbled about in the water and in this way have the muck and dirt which adheres to them softened and loosened so thatl it may be more readily removed by the brushes operating in the intermediate vat.

The nuts are scrubbed on said table to remove from them the adhering dirt; and in the vat at the discharge end of my machine the nuts are rinsed, and then automatically lifted out of this vat by means of ay suitable conveyer and discharged onto a chute, which in practice, discharges intoV a Suitable re-.

ceptacle. Y

A continuous flow `of water is provided for the discharge vat, and the water flows through the series of vats toward the vat at the receiving end of the machine, hence this vat will receive the bulk of the dirt adhering to the nuts, and the water in the latter vat has a continuous outflow, thus preventing the water Yin this tank from becoming too dirty for effective work. The arranging of the trough of water into three bodies or vats and the stepping ofthe water levels functions y to prevent the dirt from one body floating into the adjoining vat.v It also serves tov keep the water in the intermediate vat at a proper levelV relative to the planes of the scrubbing table and the scrubbing brushes acting on the nuts.` The rinsing vatat the discharge end of my machine receiving the fresh water is'thusy kept clean, as necessary for the final rinsing of the scrubbednuts.

Another feature of my machine yis that'` the scrubbing brushes do not work in water, for

if the brushes dragY in they water "they use up an undue amount of power, particularly so since they move against the current 'of the water flowing from one vat to the'other.

Other special featuresl of my invention are hereinafter set forth in detail; accompanying drawings illustrate the principle of construction and operation governin my invention, in which:

Figure l is a general plan of my machine in its entirety;

Fig. 2 is a dia-grammatical longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 as viewed in the direction of TheV the arrows, this view being ydrawn on av larger scale than the preceding figures ,1

Fig. 4 is an isometric perspective of the upper end ofthe trough ofthe iirst conve er;

ig. 5 is an isometric perspective of the discharging end of the yscrubbing trough,

showing the spout leading into thelower end Fig. 8 is a detail showing a side elevation.

of a section, or part of the endless chain of scrubbing brushes, illustrating the coperation thereof with the'riffles on the scrubbing table; and v Fig. 9 is an isometric perspective showing a detail of construction of the troughs in which the conveyers work., f f

The nuts are placed inthe receiving hopper a, and are permitted to drop through slide-gate b into the trough c'ofthespiral conveyer d, the lower end of the trough extending into thewater ofv the first vat fie. In this vat dirt on the nuts-is soaked andl loosllO ened. From the vat w the nuts are carried l by the conveyer into the second or middle vat, falling from the upper end e of the con'-v veyer onto the scrubbing table f, and rolling, as a result of the momentum gained in theirfall, onto or close to the scrubbing riiiies g. le, re resents an endless chain of scrubbing brus es which revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

clined chute gv.

j represents empty nuts which lioat, and which thus may be removed by hand.

later is admitted, through the supply pipe g, into the rinsing vat r until it overflows the partition s, into the scrubbing vat t and fills the latter to the openings uV in the partition fz), through which the water enters and fills the vat w. The opening u is located at such height that the water level in the vat t is kept approximately halt way between the scrubbing riiiles g and the brushes t' as illustrated in Fig. AS. In this way the nuts y' are continually tumbeled in the water and rinsed while being scrubbed and the brushes z' do not dip and drag in the water, which would tend to consume an undue amount of power because of the dragging against the How of the water in the vat t.

The water in the receiving vat w is kept at a level just below the level of water in the vats t and 'i' by the adjustment of the outflow of the valve m. A

lMost of the dirt scrubbed from the nuts Vin the scrubbing-vat t floats through the openings u into the receiving vat w, and the remainder sinks to the bottom, hence the nuts are scrubbed in waterwhich is practically clean.

Slotsg/ areprovided inthe troughs c and n of Athe spiral conveyers, as illustrated iu Fig.. 9; and Vslots e between the scrubbing rittles g, as illustrated in Fig. 8 which permits the water to till the trough t at their lower ends, and also preventsthel dirt-trom collecting on the scrubbing table, sinceit not washed away by the current of water passing through the trough t it will fall rlhe conveyer troughs c and n are preterably made with concave corners 6 to prevent dirt :trom collecting in the corners. The troughs are built just large enough in cross section to permit the dirt to slide down under the blades ot the conveyer but yet not permit the nuts to crowd in between the periphery of the blades and the sides of the trough.

Power is applied to pulley 7, (see Figs. l and 2) thus rotating the shaft S on which are sprocket-wheels 9 and i0. A sprocket chain 7i travels on sprocket wheels l0 and l2, the former being on the shaft S, and the sprocket-chain h carries the brushes c'. The sprocket-chain 7i runs over a roller 26 mounted on a shaft 2T. Gn the shaft 14 .of the sprocket-wheel l2 is also mounted another sprocket wheel 13 connected by a sprocketchain ll, Vwith a sprocket Awheel 16 on the shaft 17 rotating the latter and rotating the shaft l5 of the spiral conveyer (Z through the medium ot bevel gears i8 vand 1 9. In like manner the spiral conveyer 0 is rotated through the medium of sprocket chain 2O connecting the'sprocket wheel 9 with the sprocket wheel 2l on shaft 22 trom which power is transmitted through the medium ot the bevel gears 23 and 24C.

@t course the specific means for applying the power to operate the respective devices are not material, but may be lett to the convenience oi the constructor ot device.

claim:

l, A washing machine oi'1 the character described comprising, a trough divided into a receiving section, an intermediate section and a discharge sectiommeans holding the water contained yin said sections in levels stepped downward from the discharge section toward the receivingsection, a hopper discharging-into the receiving section. a conveyer having an end located under said hopper and in the water. a table in the intermediate section such table having transverse ritlies. a chain ot brushes supported jtor being moved longitudinally over said table, means for driving saidbrushes, said conveyor discharging onto the riitled table.Y

2. A washing machine of the character de'- scribed comprising, a trough divided into a 4 receiving section, an intermediate section and a discharge section. means holding the water contained in-said-secticns in levels stepped downward trom the discharge section toward the receiving section; a hopper discharging into the receivingsection, a spiral conveyer Vhan/'ing an end located under said hopper and in the water, the conveyer having a trough of conforming cross area and provided with draining apertures, a table in the intermediate section, such table having transverseriiiles, achain ofbrushes supported.r Jforbeing moved longitudinally over said table, means for driving ,said brushes,

llO

lmoved longitudinally over said table, means for driving said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riliied table.

4L. .A washing machine oi" the character described comprising, a trough divided into a receiving section, an intermediate section and a discharge section, means holding the `water contained in said sections in levels stepped downward from the discharge sec:- tion toward theV receiving section, a hopper discharging into the receiving section, a conveyer, having an end located under said hopper and in the water, a table in the intermediate section, such table having trans verse riiles and apertures between the riiiies,

a chain of brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, means for driving said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riified table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced from the top of said table and toward the discharging sec-- tion.

5. A washing machine of the character described comprising, a trough divided into a receiving section, an intermediate section and a discharge section, means holding theV water contained in said sections in levels stepped downward from the discharge section toward the receiving section, a hopper discharging into the receiving section', a conveyer having an end located under said hopper and in the water, a table in the intermediate section, such ila-ble having transverse riilies and apertures between' the riiiies, a chain of brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, means `lor driving said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riified table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced `from the top of said table and toward the discharging section, and a second conveyer in the latter section, such conveyer to receive the discharge from the riiiied table.

6. A washing machine of the character described comprising, a trough divided into a receiving section, an intermediate section and a discharge section, means holding the water contained in said sections in levels stepped downward from the discharge section toward the receiving section, a hopper discharging into the receiving section, a spiral conveyor having an end located under said hopper and in the water, the conveyer having a trough et conforming cross area and provided with draining apertures, a table in the intermediate section, such table having tansverse riiiies and apertures between the ritlies, a chain of brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, means for driving said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riilied table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced from thc top et said table and toward the discharging section, and a second conveyer in the latter section, such conveyer adapted to, receive the discharge iroin they riiiied table.

f7. A washing machine of the character described con'iprising, a trough divided into a receiving` section, an intermediate section and a discharge section, means holding the water contained in said sections in levels stepped downward from the discharge section toward the receiving section, a hopper discharging into the receiving section, a conveyer having an end located unoer said hopper and in the water, a table in the intermediate section, such table having transverse riiies, a chain of brushes supported iter being moved longitudinally over said table, means for driving said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riiiied table, and a second conveyor in the latter sectiomsuch `conveyer adapted to receive the discharge its discharge spout, a conveyor having an j end located under said hopper and iii the water, a table in the intermediate section, such tabie having transverse riflies, a chain of brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, means igor driv ing` said brushes, said conveyer discharging onto the riiiied table, and a second conveyor in the latter section, such conveyor adapted to receive the discharge from the rii'iied table.

9, ,in a washing machine of the character described, a trough, a table in the trough, such table having transverse riiiies and apertures between the riiiies, and a chain ot driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table.

l0. in a washing machine oi". the character described, a trough, a table in the trough, such table having transverse riiiies and apertures between the riiiies, a chain oi"- driven contained in said sections inlevels brushes supported for being movedlongitudinally over said table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced 'from the top oi said table and towarc the discharging section.

ll. ln a washing machine of the character described, a trough, a hopper discharging lnto the trough, means in such hopper for agita-ting its contents near its discharge spout, a conveyer having an end located under said hopper and in the water, a table having transverse riiiies,y and a vchain of driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, said conveyer discharging onto the riiiied table.

l2. in a washing' machine of the character descril ed, a trough, a hopper discharging` into the trough, means in such hopper for agitating its contents near its discharge spout, a conveyer having an end located under said hopper and inthe water, a table in the trough, such table having transverse riiiies and apertures between the riiiies, a chain oi'driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinallyover said table, said conveyer discharging onto the riiiled table.

Y 13. ln a washing machine ot the character described, a trough, a hopper discharging into the trough, a conveyer having an end located under said hopper and in the water, a table having transverse riles, and a chain oif driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinally over said table, said conveyor discharging onto the riilled table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced from the top of said table.

14. in a washing machine or the character described, a troiwli, a hopper discharginginto the trough, a conveyor having an end located under said hopper and in the water, a table having transverse riilies and apertures between the ri'l'les, and a chain of driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinally our said table, said conveyor discharging onto the riiiled table, the brushes moving in a plane spaced from the top of said table.

15. in a washing machine or" the character described, a trough, a hopper discharging into the trough, a spiral conveyer having an end located under said hopper and .in

the water, the conveyor having a trough of coni'orming cross area and provided with draining apertures, a table having transverse riiiles, and a chain or driven brushes supported for being moved longitudinally 'over said table.

1G. in washing machine or the character described, a series of three vats, means for a continuous feed oi water in the vat located the discharge end oi the machine, means orniaintaining the water levels in the three vats at progressive heights with the lowest livel at the receiving end or" the machine, a hopper over the receiving end of the machine, an agitator located at the spout of the hopper, aeconif'eyer having its receiving ene dipped in the water of the receiving vat under said hopper and adapted to discharge into the intermediate vat, a washing table vloca Yed in the intermediate vat the upper surface oi` saidta le being provided with a series of transverse rii'iles, having slots between them, anendless carrier carrying a.

series ot brushes adapted for brushing the nuts lying on said washing table, the brushes operating in cooperation with said rifles to turn the walnuts over and over on the washing table and also carrying the same toward the discharge end ofthe washing table, a adapted to carry the walnuts as discharged rom the washing table into a conveyor locatedv at the discharge end 0i the machine. said conveyor having one end ped in the la vat and operating to i and discharge the nuts from said latter sul; out or the machine.

in a washing machine of the character described. a trough, a table in the trough, provided with apertures, a series of driven brushes supporter. for being moved longitudinally over `said table in a plane spaced 'from the top thereof, means on thetable top serving to provide some resistance to the inoveinentby the brushes oi the iiruit deposited' on the table, and water feeder for Ysaid trough adapted to maintain the water at a level covering said table, but below the plane oi"- the working faces of said brushes y FERDNAND GRONER. 

